The following is the translation of an Arabic Q&A from the website of t he noble jurist and mufassir Sheikh `Ata’ Ibn Khalil Abu Rashta (Allah preserve him). Question: It is stated in the book "The one in authority over the Muslims (Khalifah) is entrusted to distribute and dispose of the booties and the spoils of war as he deems it appropriate". Then what sense the stipulation "a fifth share…." does have in the speech of Allah (SWT)? As He (SWT) said: (واعلموا أنما غنمتم من شيء فأن لله خمسه) “And know that out of all the booty that you may acquire (in war), a fifth share is assigned to Allah and to the Messenger .” Does it signify that if Khalifah intends to distribute the booty and gives the bait-ul-mal it share, he is restricted up to the fifth share (this is contrary to what I have understood about this matter) or he can, for example, take half of the booty for bait-ul-mal and distribute the second half among the soldiers. In short,
"Thoughts are the greatest wealth of any nation."